5 Hidden Features Every Android Phone Owner Should Know About

Since Android is an open source operating system (OS), there is almost no shortage of unique features that Android phones can have. But what about those that are a little less flashy than Circle to Search or even Battery Saver mode? Many Android phones allow screen pinning which ensures that your phone remains private even when you hand it to someone. Additionally, there are also entertainment options that allow you to cast your device’s screen directly to your smart TV.

It turns out that these are all features that you can easily access, but are sometimes slightly hidden because the menus change or become convoluted due to updates. While your Android experience is highly manufacturer dependent, most of these hidden features should be present on modern phones. While the names may differ slightly depending on which phone you’re using, they should all work the same no matter if you’re under the Samsung, Pixel, Motorola, or even OnePlus umbrella.

The built-in screen casting feature is a bit of fun because it allows you to cast anything on your screen directly to another device, like your smart TV. So when you spot a YouTube video or capture photos of your pup doing silly poses, you can mirror it from your phone to a smart TV, instead of sharing a link or attachment with every member of the family.

You can also do this on most smart TVs, as long as your Android device is on the same network as your connected smart TV. The option should be listed in your Quick Settings as “Cast”, “Screen Cast” or “Smart View”. You may also need to configure something on your TV for your phone to appear on it. If you’re using a Fire TV Stick or Fire TV, you need to put it in screen mirroring mode. From there, your TV should appear on your phone and you can choose what you want to display, whether it’s just the app you’re in or the entire phone screen. Just note that this feature should work on most modern smart TVs across the price range, but if it’s not built into the TV’s operating system, you may need a device like Chromecast to make it work.

Notification Cooldown is a newer Android feature, so unless you keep up with Android updates and the many new features that come out, you may not know it exists. Notification cooldown was introduced in Android 15 and then updated to Android 16. It works by minimizing notification alerts and gradually reducing the volume of notifications if you receive too many in a short period of time. This can be useful when you connect to the Internet after a while or when there is a heated discussion in a group chat. That said, the notification cooling feature doesn’t work on calls, alarms, and other important notifications, so you can safely enable it.

On Android 16 devices, like a Pixel phone, open Settings > Notifications, then tap Notification Cooldown under the “General” heading. Enable notification usage cooldown. Return to the same section to disable it when you no longer need to use this feature.

App pinning, sometimes called screen pinning, is probably a security feature you’ve missed because its use case is a bit specialized. Essentially, when you enable this option, you are pinning an app to your device’s screen, preventing you from using it and nothing else. You can’t switch apps, check notifications, or interact with anything else on your phone except this app. This feature is especially useful if you briefly hand over your phone to someone else, like another friend or even a child who might accidentally open private apps or files. This gives you peace of mind if you are someone who has trust issues when sharing such a personal device.

To start using the app pinning feature, open your Android Settings, go to Security & Privacy, then tap More Security & Privacy. Keep in mind that the UI will differ slightly depending on the Android version and OEM skin, but the steps should be relatively similar. Enable app pinning. If it’s a toggle, make sure it’s enabled. Once you enable the option, open the app and then tap to switch apps. In the app sheet, next to the app you have open, you should find the three-dot menu at the top right. Select it, then tap Pin. To unpin this active app, swipe up and hold, or press and hold the Back and Recents buttons, then enter your PIN, password, or pattern to verify that you are the owner.

Gesture actions are very useful when you need to do something in a pinch but don’t have time to fully unlock your phone. Flip to Silence is your best friend if you’re that person who may have forgotten to turn on mute during an important work meeting or conference, but wants to do it discreetly without interrupting.

On Pixel devices, the feature is called “Flip to Shhh” and can be found in the system settings. It’s also a bit more comprehensive than Flip to Silence on other models, as it enables Do Not Disturb to turn off notifications. On other Android devices, it’s usually found in the Phone app settings. Once you enable it, all you have to do to silence your calls is place your phone face down. Overall, its use case varies by user, but it’s still one of those awesome Android gestures that you’ll want to keep handy so you’re not awkwardly fiddling with your phone in a crowded public space.

Android offers a variety of shortcodes that you can access depending on your phone model and carrier. These codes can show you information about the device, such as your IMEI number, as well as interesting diagnostics/statistics. If your carrier supports it, you can sometimes use shortcodes to turn caller ID on or off or even check call forwarding or waiting. These codes are accessible through your device’s default dialer and vary depending on the Android version, as not all are compatible with newer versions.

But if you’re interested in shortcodes, just open the dialer and enter a series of symbols and numbers, like *#*#7287#*#*. For example, this code will notably open the Repair Diagnostics app on Pixel phones. The best way to find usable shortcodes is to search for your phone and the Android version you’re using, then look at a list.